The former All-Australian says he expects to spend plenty of time in defence but knows he will be a true ‘utility’ in 2009.

“Throughout this year I will play up forward when needed and down back when needed – on any given week I could play either end of the ground,” McPhee said.

“As a more senior player I want to give guys like Courtenay Dempsey and Jay Nash some guidance in defence.

“Dempsey has had a really good pre-season and is such an exciting player to watch for spectators and even for team-mates at training. To see him burst through packs and run the length of the field and take on blokes is really exciting for our club and he will be a very good player when he is healthy, which he currently is.

“It’s great to see Alwyn Davey back on the track after his knee issues. He’s one of those sorts of players that have come back well from a knee operation - it looks like he hasn’t missed a beat to be honest. Andrew Lovett’s approach to training has also been fantastic and it will be great to get those two players back on the ground and really supporting the rest of the team.”

The 26-year-old said the team is aiming for the eight claiming anything less would be disappointing.

“It’s just going to come down to which team wants it more and which lists develop quicker,” he said.

While a major role change on-field isn’t likely, McPhee has plenty to adapt too off-field as a new dad.

“Taj is going really well and it’s been fantastic to have him around and everything now revolves around him,” he said laughing.

“He’s coming up to five months old and his personality is starting to show – he’s a bit like me in that he demands things so I am getting payback from when I was a kid.”

Speaking on radio today, McPhee also revealed he and his father-in-law are just about to open up a jet-ski store in Tullamarine called 'Project Watercraft'.